School's Out for Summer; Let the Learning Continue

Summer is right around the corner. While your son or daughter may be thrilled to shut the textbooks, there are plenty of inexpensive and accessible ways to continue learning during the summer months. Here are fifteen ideas to consider. Challenge your tween or teen to:

1. Read one book a week. Hook up with a local library for a reward program. Ask his or her school for a reading list.
2. Research the top five emerging careers.
3. Videotape an interview with an older relative or family friend—if they had their life to live over, what would they change?
4. Invest a certain amount (parents decide) of money and try to achieve a pre-determined return on the investment.
5. Begin learning a new language.
6. Volunteer at a local community organization.
7. Turn off all electronic devices (yep, a pretty radical idea) and write an old-fashioned letter to someone.
8. Take up a new musical instrument.
9. Create a photographic history of a summer experience.
10. Learn a new computer application.
11. Begin a business.
12. Job shadow.
13. Enroll in a community college class for college credit.
14. Take some virtual online campus tours.
15. Attend a summer camp.

It's Never Too Early to Plan for College and Career

ACT research clearly shows that making sure students are on target academically by eighth grade is critical to their future success. What can you, as a parent, do to be an advocate for your child? A good starting place—even if you attended college—is to visit ACT's Helping Your Child Become a First-Generation Student.

Whether students go to college or directly enter the workforce after high school, they must have the same solid academic preparation. Don't settle for simply "okay." Encourage your son or daughter to take the most rigorous classes offered beginning in junior high. Find out the name of the school counselor and get to know him or her. Ask your son or daughter about their classes at school. Be an active partner in your son's or daughter's academic career.

ACT recommends that students take a Core Curriculum of at least:

• Four years of English
• Three years of mathematics, including challenging classes in Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II
• Three years of science, including rigorous courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• Three years of social studies

Two great tools for you and your family to explore are ACT's World-of-Work Map and our brand new Map of College Majors. These sites are great starting points for your tween or teen to begin thinking about interests, abilities, and occupations after K–12. The maps complement each other and provide lots of useful information.

Finally, one of the little-known features of the ACT test is a 72-question interest inventory completed during registration. When your teenager receives test scores, he or she will also receive invaluable feedback about potential careers and possible college majors. The score report also details academic areas where your teenager excels and areas where he or she needs to improve—for example, your teen may need to enroll in a more challenging math or English class next term. Use the helpful data from the ACT to plan for the future.

ACT Test Date Reminder

ACT's next national test date is June 13, 2009. The registration deadline is May 8. For a small additional fee, your teenager can also register late from May 9–22.

ACT is pleased to announce a new nationwide test date. Beginning September 12, 2009, students in all 50 states may take the ACT. This day is a great opportunity for seniors to take the test in time for early college applications. The registration deadline is August 7, 2009. To learn more, visit the ACT test dates page and click on the 2009-2010 tab.

Fee waivers from the current school year can be used when registering for the September test. If your child qualifies for a free or reduced lunch program at school, remind your teenager to talk with his or her counselor about a test waiver before classes end for the summer.

ACT offers an optional Writing Test. Visit the ACT student website to find out about the Writing Test, including which colleges require or recommend it.

In next month's edition:

• How Can I Afford to Send my Teenager to College?
• How Do Colleges Use ACT Scores?
• What is PLAN^® and How Will It Help My Son or Daughter?

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See also:

ACT's Information for Parents

The ACT

PLAN

EXPLORE

Financial Aid

College Search

Careers